Closure cover with pressure relief means

ABSTRACT

A sealing cover with pressure relief means for a container such as a petrol tank has a partition with a central hole surrounded by a ring of holes. A rod passes freely through the central hole and has a valve head resting on one side of the partition to cover and seal the central hole. The rod also carries a valve plate resting on the other side of the partition to cover the ring of holes. One or two springs are provided to hold the valve head and plate in sealing positions, and allow them to lift off the partition on the occurrence of a predetermined under or over pressure in the tank, to relieve the said pressure.

United States Patent [191 Blau et al.

[451 May 7,1974

[ CLOSURE COVER WITH PRESSURE RELIEF MEANS [75] Inventors: Werner Blau; Theo Gerdes, both of Langenfeld/Rhineland, Germany [73] Assignee: Blau K.G. Fabrik fur I Kraitfahrzeugteile, Langenfeld, Rhineland, Germany 221 Filed: Aug. 3, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 277,801

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug.5, 1-971 Germany ..7l30l27 Aug. 30, 1971 Germany 7133064 [52] U.S. Cl 220/44 R, 220/24 C, 220/24 GT [51] Int. Cl B65d 51/16 [58] Field of Search... '220/40 R, 44 R, 24 C, 24 GT [56] References .Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,083,862 4/1963 Bowden 220/44 R 3,587,912 6/1971 Nagoya 220/44 R Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker I ABSTRACT A sealing cover with pressure relief means for a container such as a petrol tank has a partition with a central hole surrounded by a ring of holes. A rod passes freely through the central hole and has a valve head resting on one side of the partition to cover and seal the central hole. The rod also carries a valve plate resting on the other side of the partition to cover the ring of holes. One or two springs are provided to hold the valve head and plate in sealing positions, and allow them to lift off the partition on the occurrence of a predetermined under or over pressure in the tank, to

' relieve the said pressure.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CLOSURE COVER WITH PRESSURE RELIEF MEANS The present invention concerns closure covers having valvelike automatically acting pressure compensating or ventilation means.

In radiator capsfor motor vehicles it is known to press valves onto seating surfaces by respective springs, the valves being then automatically raised or drawn down from their seats according to whether an internal over-pressure or underpressure occurs.

It is also known to provide a cover or cap, particularly for fuel tanks, with a control diaphragm, whereby, in the event of fluctuations of the'tank pressure relatively to the surrounding atmosphere, valve parts serving for ventilation are automatically raised from their seats. For this purpose it is known to connect the resilient control diaphragm with an under-pressure ventilating valve by way of a rod and to insert there-between a rigid sheet metal member in such manner that the diaphragm is supported against it from above in a convex form and located at the lower end of the rod extending displaceably through a centre hole in-the inserted plate.

It is the object of the present invention, in the case of such covers provided with an inserted partitionand ventilation holes, and with over and under-pressure automatically controlled compensating devices both to simplify the assembly thereof and also to improve the operation of the valves themselves.

According to the present invention there is therefore provided a sealing cover or cap with a partition having ventilation holes, and valve plates acting by spring pressure on the ventilation holes to provide automatically controlled compensation of overor underpressure occurring within a container to which the cover is fitted, the cover including a rod extending loosely through the partition in the cover and having at one end an edge bead or valve face which rests sealingly against one side of the partition the rod carrying a valve plate engaging on theother side of the partition, and compression spring forces acting between, the other end of the valve rod and the partition so as to press both valve members against the partition.

The invention will now' be described with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a bayonet fitting cover with a double valve pressure compensation, usingv only one compression spring.

FIG. 2 is a modified embodiment of the invention using two compression springs for the double valve.

According to FIG. 1, a closure cover 1 is shown in cross section, having an outwardly and downwardly extending overlapping caplike edge fonnation l and a handle I'' pressed out and extending transversely upwardly. It encloses a spring housing member 2 inserted in the edge 1, with an upper flanged edge 2" and diametrically opposed cut-outs 2' on both sides through which a bayonet fastening 3' of a bridge member 3 extends. The bar is held by a compression spring 4 against the pot shaped base 2" below it, and the arrangement serves to draw the cover tight on a seating when the joint is engaged. Inserted between the laterally outwardly angled flange edge 2" and the upper cover edge 1 is a partitiion 5 with ventilation holes 5', near the centre. This position 5 has a central hole 5" which is traversed by a valve rod 8 fitting loosely therein, with a valve end 8' engaging sealingly from above against the partition 5. This valve rod 8 also passes through a valve plate 6 acting against the underside of the partition 5, and having sealing rings 6' closing the other ventilation holes 5. The plate is supported from below by a compression spring 7 acting also on the lower end of the valve rod 8, to press against the partition 5, andthe upper valve end 8' of the rod 8 is simultaneously pressed by the use of the same spring 7 against the partition 5 to cover the centre ventilation hole 5". For this purpose a foot plate 9 is located on the lower end of the rod member 8 as a base for the compression spring 7. 7

Both parts act as valve plates and may open at different gas pressures. Both valves are pressed with a sealing effect against the partition 5 from above and below respectively in opposite directions by the compression spring sothat the holes 5' and 5" are closed. If an under-pressure now arises internally of the tank on which the cover is placed, the valve plate 6 is drawn downwardly from the outer ventilation holes 5' against the upwardly directed spring 7 bearing thereon, and a pressure equalisation by inflowing air occurs in the direction of the arrow A in this case from below the edge 1 of the cap by way of a circular corrugation 2" providing a ventilation channel within the upper edge 2 on the flange of the pot-shaped spring housing member 2, and by way of the cut-outs 5" distributed over the circumference of the partition 5. In the event of an internal over-pressure, the valve rod 8 with its lower bearing plate 9 is lifted up so that the head edge beading 8' uncovers the centre ventilation hole 5" and now air is evacuated in the direction of the arrow B from inwardly to the outside. After pressure compensation, the centre hole 5" in the partition 5 is automatically closed again, since the compression spring 7 then draws the valve edge 8' on the rod 8 downwardly again.

As shown, a sealing ring 10 is disposed between the partition 5 and the flanged edge 2" and-the partition 5 is a metal disc. Alternatively, the partition 5 itself may be of a self-sealing material, or the valve parts sixsixths and eight-eighths or at least their annular sealing edges 6 and 8' may also consist of a sealing material.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, wherein similar parts are provided with the same reference numerals. The difference is that two compression springs 7' and 7" are used,-both supported from the bearing plate 9. The compression spring 7 rests at the top against the valve plate 6 below the partition 5, and presses the annular bead sealing edges 6 against the outer ventilation holes 5'. The other compression spring 7", resting against the partition 5 passes loosely through the lower valve plate 6 and is disposed concentrically on the rod 8. The two compression springs 7'/7" are supported on the bearv ing plate 9 within grooves 9'. The outer compression outs 5" and groove-like passages 2" from under the edge 1- of the cover. After compensation of pressure, the valve plate 8' closes the centre hole 5" in the parti tion 5 under the action of the springs 7/7". In the event of an internal under-pressure, the valve plate 6 below the partition 5 is drawn downwardly with its sealing edges 6 against the force of the outer volute spring 7' alone, whilst the spring 7 partition 5 remains unchanged. After pressure compensation in the direction of the arrow A from the outside inwardly through the uncovered ventilation holes 5, these holes are sealed again by the valve plate six-sixths' under the force of the spring 7'. In a modified form, sealing bead rings 6 disposed concentrically to each other may also be used on the sealing plate 6, these rings sealing several ventilation holes 5 arranged in a circle, instead of using separate annular sealingedges around each hole 5'.

We claim l. A sealing cover comprising a partition defining ventilation holes, valve plates acting by spring pressure on said ventilation holes to provide automatically controlled compensation of over-or under-pressure occurring within a container to which said cover is fitted, a rod extending l'oosely through said partition, a first member on one end of said rod said member resting sealingly against one'side of said partition, a second valve member carried by said rod and engaging on the other side of said partition, and compression spring consist of a self-sealing material.

means acting between one end of said rod and said partition so as to press both valve members against said partition.

2. 7A closure cover as recited in claim 1, comprising a single compression spring, and abutting means for said spring, and such means on one end of said rod and another such means on said second valve member.

3. A closure cover as recited in claim 1 comprising a bearing plate mounted on the spring means end of said rod, a first compression spring supported against said plate, and a second compression spring disposed concentrically around said rod and extending freely through said plate to press against said partition.

4. A closure cover as recited in claim 1 wherein said plate has annular sealing edges bearing against said partition and closing said ventilation holes. I

5. A closure cover as recited in claim 4, including concentric edge beads on said plate, and sealing ventilation holes distributed around a circle.

6. A closure cover as recited in claim 3 wherein said plate definesgrooves locating said'springs.

7. A closure cover as recited in claim 2, wherein said spring is supported on said plate within an angled edge circumference thereof.

8. A closure cover as recited in claim 1 characterised in that the partition and parts acting as valve surfaces 

1. A sealing cover comprising a partition defining ventilation holes, valve plates acting by spring pressure on said ventilation holes to provide automatically controlled compensation of over-or under-pressure occurring within a container to which said cover is fitted, a rod extending loosely through said partition, a first member on one end of said rod said member resting sealingly against one side of said partition, a second valve member carried by said rod and engaging on the other side of said partition, and compression spring means acting between one end of said rod and said partition so as to press both valve members against said partition.
 2. A closure cover as recited in claim 1, comprising a single compression spring, and abutting means for said spring, and such means on one end of said rod and another such means on said second valve member.
 3. A closure cover as recited in claim 1 comprising a bearing plate mounted on the spring means end of said rod, a first compression spring supported against said plate, and a second compression spring disposed concentrically around said rod and extending freely through said plate to press against said partition.
 4. A closure cover as recited in claim 1 wherein said plate has annular sealing edges bearing against said partition and closing said ventilation holes.
 5. A closure cover as recited in claim 4, including concentric edge beads on said plate, and sealing ventilation holes distributed around a circle.
 6. A closure cover as recited in claim 3 wherein said plate defines grooves locating said springs.
 7. A closure cover as recited in claim 2, wherein said spring is supported on said plate within an angled edge circumference thereof.
 8. A closure cover as recited in claim 1 characterised in that the partition and parts acting as valve surfaces consist of a self-sealing material. 